Skid fender for use in the launching of ships&#39; lifeboats



Oc't. 19, 1943.

J. B. HUNT SKID FENDER FOR USE IN THE LUNGHING 0F SHIPS LIFE BOATS Filed July '28, 1942 .Num

A 7mm/Ey Patented Oct. 19, 1943 *L11 f; .l v i w.zii-2222ii snm FENDER Foa UsE 1N THE LAUNCHING or snrrs LIEEoA'rs John Blain Hunt, Penylran, Cardiff, Wales ApplcationJuly 2.8,l 1942, `Serial No. 452,580 In Great Britain March 13, 1942 (c1. 9 22) "2o which is mounted in the siting la'. This ar- 2 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in and relating to skid fenders for use'in the launching of ships life boats irrespective of list and trim yof the vessel, particularly in the condition of emergency often obtaining at the present time at sea, when life boats have toy be outboard stowedjowing to the abnormal time occupied in the operation of getting the life boats outboard from the normal inboard stowed position and refers to skid fenders which are secured to the outboard side of the life boat.

The object of the present invention is to provide skid fenders which are flexible in that they can be readily accommodated to the contour shape of the cross-section of the life boat without the necessity of templating andl iitting of the fenders on board the vessel oroinotching to fit over the bilge or hand rail, whilst at the same time providing nosing irons or runners which are definitely continuous so as to present an Iunbroken surface to the Vessel side in the event of contact therewith duringe launching.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end View of a ships life boat with the gunwale in section, iitted with a skid fender according to Athis invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevationof a skid fender rangement allowing for the quick release of the skid fender after the launch of the boat.

If desired a locating member as shown in Figyure may be employed for locating the lower end of the nosing iron or runner 'I, in which l case the nosing iron or runner 'I would be of a greater length, the end 2l of which is flattened and positioned around part of the attened portion is a locating member, which in this case is in the form of aA clamp 2.2.

This clamp 22`consists of two parts which are divided and are adapted to surround part of the clamp 22 through which bolts 24 are passed to secure said clamp 22 in position on the runner 1.

according tov this invention in position on a shipsy lifeboat. y n

Figure 3 is a section at 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the nosing iron orr runner together with the gunwaler at-. tachment, whilst,

Figure 5 is an elevation o f a locating member for the lower end of thenosing ironor runner, which may be'used kwith this invention.

In carrying the present invention into pracv tice as shown upon the accompanying drawing,

the skid fender consists essentially of the tubular or other suitably shaped member 'I which forms a nosing iron or runner which is shaped to part of the contour in cross-section of the boat 8. The member 'I is provided with brackets 9, ID. To these brackets 9, I0 are secured blocks II, I2 Which are adapted to act as distance pieces between the boat 8 and the member 1.

The upper end of the member 'l is provided with a gripe gunvvale fitting I4 which embraces the gunwale I5 of the boat 8.

The lower end of the member 'I is formed with kan eye I6 in which is secured the lashing wire ror rope I'I. v y

The lashing Wire or rope II is passed under the keel I8 of the boat 8 to another gunwale fitting I9, Which comprises the screwed eye-bolt l The one half of the clamp 22is provided with y anupstanding part 25 which forms an abutment or stop which is adapted to be positioned against the side of the keel 26 of the life boat 21,

Mounted on the end of the flattened portion f 22, which preferably extends beyond the keel 26 of the boat 2'I is a shackle member 28 to which is secured the lashing wire orrope 29 which in turnv is secured to the eye-bolt of theadjustable gun- Walefitting 'as shown inFigure 1 for securing the skid fender 'l in position on the life boat.

It will be seen that skid fenders according'to this invention eliminates the necessity for the templating and iitting on board the vessel carrying the boats, by craftsmen, as a standard skid fendery isl provided which is applicable to all sizes of Vlife boats, other than in special cases wherevessels iitted with heavy bellings or overhanging decks would require vertically extended gunwale iittings to prevent accident to the personnel of the lifeboat when launching on the high side of a listed vessel.

I claim? 1. A skid fender for use in the launching of ships lifeboats; comprising incombination, af runner Ashaped to part of the contour of the i boat, a lashing secured to said runner, a member secured tosaid lashing for securing the skid inpostion and a gunwale fitting which is adapted to-be mounted on the boat which permits of the quick release of the membersecured to the `lashing to permitof the release of the skid fender;

"of thee skid fender.

tension, part of which is adapted to engage the keel of the life boat, a lashing for securing the skid fender in position secured to the runner, a member secured to said lashing for engagement with a gunwale tting, and a gunwale fitting which is adapted to be mounted on the boat which permits of the quick release of the member secured to the lashing to permit of the release JOHN BLAIN' HUNT. 

